Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to
four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Environmentcurrent issues: desertification; very limited natural fresh
water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in
the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal
cities

Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate
religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1
September 1969); noteholds no official title, but is de facto chief of state head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee (Premier) Muhammad
Ahmad al-MANQUSH (since NA January 1998) cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples'
committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last
held NA (next to be held NA) election results: Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH elected head of government; percent of
General People's Congress voteNA

Legislative branch: unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members
elected indirectly through a hierarchy of peoples' committees)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: none

Political pressure groups and leaders: various Arab nationalist movements with
almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic
elements

Economyoverview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon
revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about
one-third of GDP. Per capita GDP is the highest in Africa at $6,700, but
disproportionately little of national income flows down to the lower orders of society.
GDP growth fluctuates sharply in response to changes in the world oil market; GDP has
either contracted or grown very sluggishly since 1992. Import restrictions and inefficient
resource allocations have led to periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The
nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have
expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of
petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Although agriculture accounts for only 5% of
GDP, it employs 18% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit
farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. The UN sanctions
imposed in April 1992 do not have a major impact on the economy although they have
increased transaction and transportation costs.

Railways:note: Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems
having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from
the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a
mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress; other plans made jointly with Egypt
would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion set for
mid-1994; no progress has been reported